The Prevalence and Comorbidity of Specific Phobias in College Students and Their Interest in Receiving Treatment

Seim, Richard W.; Spates, C. Richard

Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, v24 n1 p49-58 2010

While the prevalence of specific phobias and social phobias is believed to be high in the general adult population, little data exists regarding the prevalence of these fears among college students. This paper describes an epidemiological study that surveyed 813 college students regarding the severity of fears experienced toward 12 objects and situations. In addition, this study assessed for students' interest in seeking therapy for these fears at their university's counseling or mental health center. The data suggest that fears of spiders (34% of the total sample), public speaking (31%), snakes (22%), heights (18%), and injections (16%) are quite common among college students, and 18% of students are interested in receiving treatment for their fears. The paper concludes with some recommendations on how exposure-based treatments could be conducted through college counseling or mental health centers to address these potentially academic- and socially impairing problems. (Contains 3 tables.)